Fan Poll: Top 5 Linkin Park Songs of All Time

Linkin Park was one of the most distinctive bands of the 2000s. Their fusion of hip-hop, metal, and electronica, coupled with their vulnerable lyrics, attracted thousands of people who felt alienated by pop radio. He spawned a series of memorable albums and legendary live performances that will be forever missed. Last week, the band released the song “Friendly Fire,” composed during their One More Light sessions and featuring the stellar vocals of the late singer Chester Bennington. Naturally, this got us thinking about the group’s many great performances over the years, so we asked our readers to name the best Linkin Park songs of all time.

They responded with many moving songs, but in the end, only five made it through. Find the top-ranked fan picks below.

5. “Crawling”

Over the years, “Crawling” has gained enormous longevity. Coming from Hybrid Theory, their first success, this song is one of the rare ones not to highlight the charm of the back and forth of Mike Shinoda and Bennington. Instead, Bennington takes the lead with his beautiful voice, taking the song – especially the emotional chorus – into the stratosphere. It isn’t easy to listen to after Bennington’s passing but it reminds us how talented he was.

4. “Faint”

“Faint” holds a special place in the hearts of readers. From their second album, Meteora, it’s an energetic track that may seem a little short, but live, it’s completely detached. “Brad went on the studio bus, where Mike was working, to record a new idea,” the band wrote in the album’s booklet. “Brad recorded the first guitar track of “Faint” on a click track – no drums, no music – expecting the tempo to be around 70 BPM. He got back on the bus a few days later and Mike set the pace to 135 BPM, almost twice as fast. After much thought, Brad and Mike decided that a faster tempo would be more fun.

3. “Numb”

Surprisingly, another Meteor attacks again. “Numb” is a standout track on an album full of them, and its explosive chorus – “I’ve gone numb/I can’t feel you there” – frankly represents Linkin Park doing their best. The song later further blurred the lines between rap and rock on their Collision Course EP. One of his mashups, “Numb/Encore,” featured Jay-Z, which ultimately became a powerful and iconic collaboration in its own right.

2. “Papercut”

“Papercut,” the opening track of Hybrid Theory, encapsulates some of the band’s greatest qualities. Shinoda’s raps ignite and the song comes to life with the explosive chorus, which opens the LP on the highest note possible. There’s also plenty of heavy guitar riffs and groves – pretty much something for everyone. Overall, it’s an absolute whirlwind of a song that seems to be loved by everyone, regardless of your genre allegiance.

1. “In The End”

“In The End” is such an important song that our readers of course consider it the greatest Linkin Park song of all time. Hybrid Theory had a profound impact – “In The End” is the third track from the album named here – but for good reason. This song is uplifting and filled with emotion – its chorus is meant to make you scream at the top of your lungs. Even when “In The End” was played on daytime radio, it never lost its impact.